Abstract:
The reproductive behavior and movements of arribada nesting olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys
olivacea) were studied during the 1990 and 1991 nesting seasons (September through November) at
Nancite Beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Females that normally emerge synchronously
once a month on Nancite Beach to oviposit delayed oviposition in response to a period of very
heavy rainfall. Females retained oviducal eggs for 6 3 days and emerged synchronously to oviposit at Nancite
Beach after the rain had ceased. Egg retention in L. olivacea appears to be an adaptation which enables
delayed oviposition when environmental conditions are unsuitable and may also facilitate reproductive
synchrony. We suggest that preovipositional arrest of developing embryos may have occurred while
oviducal eggs were retained.
